Conductor clamp



Aug. `3 1926. 1,594,925-

H. P. CHANDLER yCONDUCTOR CLAMP Filed Sept. 20 1922 Patented Aug. 3;1926.

' UNITED sTATEs A PATENT OFFICE.

HOHER P. CHANDLER, or MANSFIELD, OHIO; ASSIGNOR 'ro THE omo BRASS COM-PANY, or MANSFIELD, oHIo, A coRPoRarI'oN or NRW JERSEY.

CONDUCTOR CLAMP.

l My invention relatesto a device for clamping to a conductor and havingin combination therewith means for securing a cable thereto and which Iterm a clamping connector. It has particular use in mines whereelectrically operated machines are used at a distance from the source ofsupply of electric energy and wherethe location of these machines isshifted from time to time and, therefore, a connection to the electricconductor from which the current is taken is required to be temporaryand movable.

In addition to the general object of my invention stated above, I alsohave incorporated in the device embodying my invention means for makinga connection to the conductor which is made slidable with respect to theconductor.

Another object of my invention is to insert .therein a fusible elementto protect the apparatus from excessive current.

Other objects will ap )ear as my invention is more fully describe andset forth hereafter. e

`My invention resides in the new and novel construction, arrangement andcombination of various part-s wtliich I have more fully set forth anddescribed and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing accompanying this speci.- cation:

Figure 1 is an end view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of my invention taken on the line3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a modified form of `operating handle applicable to be combinedwith the other elements of my invention and substipted for the operatinghandle shown in In the preferred form of a device embodying my inventionI employ two clamping members land 2 each provided with similar lips 3which are oppositely `disposed to engage a conductor 4. The clampingmember 1 is provided with an orifice 5 having atransverse or laterallydisposed axis relative to the clamping member 1. The clamping member 2is provided with a projecting boss l6 positione contour coinciding withthat of the walls of the orifice 5. This contour may be circular orequare or of other shape as desired. The two clamping members 1 and 2are movablerelatively to each other toward and in the orifice 5 andhavmgav 'away from each other or in a lateral or transverse direction.

7 arranged to be turned over from its original position shown by thedotted lines and to engage with the clamping member 2 to limit itslateral movement in one direction. The movement of the member 2relatively to the member 1 in a lateral direction is not suflicient topermit of the disengagement of the two members on account of theposit-ion ot' the member 7 acting as a stop member before the members 1and 2 can disengage.

The member 1 is also provided with a projecting member 8 forming agroove 9, the yobject of which will be explained later. Threadablyengaging the boss 6 is a handle 10. The handle 10 is provided with ametal member 1l which has a'stud 12 threaded into the recess 18 of theboss 6 and having a flange 14 provided with a shoulder 15 engaglng theannular flange 16 on the member The member 1 is also provided with a lipy 1. 4The -member 1 is provided with bendable lugs 17 engaging theflange 14 which prevents longitndinal movement of the handle 10 relativeto the clamping member 1, but permits a rotation of the handle 10relative to the clamping members. The member 11 is provided with aninternally screw threaded socket 12 in which is threaded the tubularmember 18 formed of insulating material. On the exterior surface of theinsulating member 18 is mounted va protecting collar or washer 19 alsoof insulating material. This washer 19 prevents the operators hand fromcoming in contact with the live member 11.

Secured to the member 18 at the opposite end fromy that secured to themember 11 is a member 20 preferably of insulating material and inthreadable engagement 4with the member 18 and provided with a passage21. Mounted withinthe cavity 22 of the member 18 is a fuse 23 having afusible element 24 contacting at one end with the member 11 and havingthe other end in contact with the conducting member 25 which has arecess 26 adapted to receive the end 27 of the cable 28. The cable 28 1sheld in the.' recess 26 by means of the set screws 29. The members 23and 25 are both removable from the member 18 upon unscrewing the member20. `When, however, the member 20 is screwed into position CII lense 23'should ,the fusible element 2&1 be

blown' on account if excessive current. rlhere are. of course, otherarrangements than thatjust described by means of which the fuse 23 maybe removed and replaced and electric circuit completed from the member2-to the member 2?.

in Fig. is shown a modified handle by means ot which electric connectionis made between the member 27 'andthe member`2 without the use of thefuse element 24:. in this arrangement there is a stud having a threadedend 12 which engages with the threaded recess 13 of member 2 and isprovided with a ange 1e the same in every re,- spe'ct to the Bange 14.-o Fig. 3, and also has a threaded socket 31 to receive a threaded stud32 having a socket member` 33 in which the cable conductor 27 is securedin vany well known manner., as for instance,

soldering. IEhe member 30 is provided with an insulated covering 3a.- f

in theoperation'and use ofmy invention l have secured thereto alongitudinal cable 28 the opposite end of which is attached to anelectrically operated apparatus such as in 'a' mining machine and whichmay be at a considerable distance from any source of supply other thanthe main trolley 4i. if the machine is in a permanent position foroperation l then secure the device embodying 'my .invention to thetrolley wire 4. at

,a convenient, pointby rotating the handle 10 thereby movlng thegripping members- 1 and 2 relatively toward each other after placing thedevice in approximate position on the trolley wire 4 and continue therotationo the handle 10 until the lips 3-3 are insecure engagement withthe trolleyr wire 4. If the rotation of the handle 10 has beensutiicient to produce an unreasonable .amount` of twist in the cable 28,this twist can "be relieved by merely rotating the member 2O backward,loosening 'the parts slightly and then re-tightening the member 2Othereby securingy the parts within the casing 18 to secure electricalengagement. If, during the operation of a ymining machine,

the current becomes Igreater than a predetermined amount. the fusiblemember 24 will be blown thereby opening the circuit. The

fuse23 can be then replaced by merely loos enin yup the member 20,withdrawing the mem er 25 and the fuse 23 and then replacing the fuse 23with. the new fuse and then replacing the arts 20 and,25.- The handle 10being insu ated makes it possible for- Lacasse sirable to have aconnection. with the trolley wire which can be moved as the machine ismoved without breaking the circuit. To permit this operation the deviceis provided with a member 8 which forms the groove 9 and the walls ofthis groove 9 are placed in contact with the trolley wire or otherconductor and held there by an operator who moves the device along thetrolley wire as necessity requires.

in the construction shown in Fig. 3 there will undoubtedly be gasesliberated at the time the fusible linlr 24 blows and unless provisionismade for allowing the escape of these gases, there is a possibility ofthe member 18 being injured, therefore, I have provided means for theescape of these gases to the yatmosphere andthis means comprises, in theconstruction shown in Fig. 3, a passage 36 between the members 23 and25, a passage 35 communicating with the passages 36 and 26 and thepassage 21 communicating with the passage 26 and the atmosphere. Thiswill permit ready escape ofl the gasesto the atmosphere, but there areother means which may be provided, performing the same unctionf Themoditied form of handle shown in Fig. i will need no explanation it isbelieved as to its use, as it will be clearly seen that if the handleshown in Fig. 4 is substituted forN-the handle shown in Fig. 3, it willonly be necessary to rotate the handle shown in Fig. l the same as thehandle 10 shown in Fig. 3, and the gripping members 1 and 2 willbeUengaged or disengaged with the conductor 4 depending upon thedirection no of rotation.

It will be noted in the construction shown in F ig. 3 that the'handle.does not move laterally with respect to the member 1, and that themember 2 will be positively moved either back or forth whenever thehandle l0l is rotated and depending upon the directionl of rotation ofthe handle.l It will also be noted that the relative movement of themembers 1 and 2 away 'from each other is limited by the member 7 whichprevents the disassembly ofv the parts.

Due to the'Y swivel engagement of the handle with the member 1 and thethreaded engagement of theshandle with the member 2 the members 1 and 2will be held in relative relation to each other at all times, but thisrelation may be `variedonly by rotation of the handle and this is anadvantage, in that, the members 1 and 2 cannot open orA close by gravitythus requiring the device to have a fixed relation relativeto theconductor 4 in order that the conductor may be positioned between themembers 1 and 2.

There are, of course. many modifications which will suggest 4themselvesto those skilled in the art, but I do not wish to be limited otherwisethan by my claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of movable members togrip a conductor, one of the members having means to limit the movementof the other member in a direction away from the conductor, rotatablemeans to move the members either toward or away from each other andmaintain the members in an adjusted relation and a fusible link mountedwithin the rotatable means and having one end electrically connected tothe members )and means on the other end of the fusible link forattachment to acable. l Y

2. An article ofvmanufacture comprising ,l a pair of movable members togrip a conductor, electrically insulated rotative means to move themembers either toward or away from each other, means for cooperative at-.tachment of the rotative means to one of the members to'maintain themembers in a predetermined relation and a fusible link mounted withinthe rotative means and elec! trioall connected to the movable membersand a so provided with means for the connection of a cable thereto.

3. An article of manufacture comprisingv a pair of movable members togrip a conductor, rotatable operating means to move the members eithertoward or away from each other, meanson one of the members to limit themovement of the other member in a direction away from the conductor,means on one of the members to prevent lateral movement of the rotatableoperating means relative to one of the members, means on the rotatableoperating means to receive a cable and a fusible link electricallyconnecting the last said means and the movable members.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of movable members togrip a conductor, rotatingr operating means secured to one member, meanson said member to prevent lateral movement of the operating member,means on the operating member en- ,f

gaging means on the other member to move the other member either towardor away from the conductor when the operating means is rotated in onedirection, or the other respectively. l

5. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of relatively movablemembers to grip a conductor, operating means rotatably secured to onemember against lateral movement and means on the operating memberengaging with means on the other member to move the other member eithertoward or away from the conductor depending upon lwith the fuseinterposed in t f the direction of rotation of the operating member.

6. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of laterally movablemembers to grip a conductor, electrically insulated rotatable operatingmeans for moving the members either toward or away from each othertoengage or release Ithe conductor repectively and having electricalengagement with said members and means on the operating member for theattachment of a cable thereto.

7. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of movable members togrip a con ductor, electrically insulated operating means swivellymounted on one member and engaging the other member whereby said Imembers are moved either toward or away 8. An article of manufacturecomprising a pair of movable members to gri a conductor, electricallyinsulated rotataiile operating means for moving the members .either intoor out of engagement with the conductor, attaching means for a cable tosaid operating means and a fusible member interposed between saidattaching means and lthe movable members to electrically connect thecable to the movable members and to protect the cable from an excessiveflow of current.

9. `The combination with a pair of clamp ing members to engage aconductor of a rotatable handle to operate the members into engagementwith the conductor, a fusible link within the handle and electricallyconnected to one of the members, means to connect a cable to the fusiblelink and means for renewing the link when necessary.

10. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of clamping members togrip a conductor, one of the members provided with a side opening andthe other member, pro vided witlra projecting member positioned in theside opening and movable laterally therein, and means engagingthe twomembers for moving the two members toward each other, the engagement ofthe said means being swiveled with one of the clamping members andthreadable with the `members into engagement with the conductor andhaving means for electrically conjnecting a cable to the clamping'members e circuit.

12. An article of manufacture for attaching a cable to a conductorcomprising meansf to grip the conductor, rotatable means to' aoY operate'the gripping means means to maintain the caioie in fixed relation tothe gripping means and means combined with tile iast means foreiectricaiiy connecting the cable to the gripping' means and maintainingthe connection under normai conditions but automatically opening theconnection when the new of current is abnormal 18, combination with apair of Ciampino memners to engage with a conductor or a rotatabiebandi-e to operate the members engagement with the contiuctor,'a nsibieiink within the handle siectricafiij;7 connected to one of the niembers,a cabie 'to make .eiectricai corines-sion with link and means connectingor fiisconnccting7 at will, tiie cabie to or 520m the link.

ne combination witn a c pins members to engage a conductor or K 7- L A Mi a rotataoie iiantiie to operate the manners cape to the atmosphere;

15.21. connector co- T@rising a ot teiesconicaiy related qoutnon-rotataioie jaws r able relative to. each other to grip a conductor,a rotatabie insuiatcd hantiie cooperatins gaws to move them or away fromeach other 'wnen rotateci and means to electrically connect a cable tosaid jaws. v

l. A connector comprising in comb1nation a pair or1 jaws to grip aconductor9 an insulated handle having a passage therethrough, andoperating to move ti'ie jaws into or ont of engagement with theconductor when the nandie is rotateci about its iongitudinai axis, acable terminating with` in seid nandie and means positioned within thepassage connecting the cable to one of the iaws.

i? A connector comprising a pair or jaws to? engage a conductor movabiesinnlitaneousiy toward or away from each other, an insuiateci bandire9means attached. to the handle and enga-ing the two jaws to more the jawstower@ or away from each other whe'- rotated anti means for*eiectricaiiy connecting the gaws to a oabie.

i8. A. connector lcomprising e pair ot jaws moveoie either towards oraway from eacii other, rotatable handle provided with means to engage.one ot tiie jaws in switfei relation, threaded means on'V the handie 1 atiireadec. engagement with the carer jeff. the jaws seing movabletowards 'eac-e other to grip a conductor when tno nandie is rotated inone oirection.

in testimony whereoi` ii my signa-

